How to set personal goals

If you’re struggling to achieve what you want in life and to be the person that you know that you’re meant to be, look no further than the process, rather than the person. Learning how to set personal goals is no more challenging than remembering the basic principles of your approach.

Personal Goals Should Be Achievable

The most important tips on setting any types of goals are that they should be achievable, you can reach them in a realistic time frame, and they should be something you desire with a passion.

I stress the importance of this because if you’re like most people, you want instant results, and reaching an achievable goal in a shorter time frame gives you the motivation to continue with long-term goals.

It’s also easier for you to achieve something you are more passionate about. You become more determined and willing to remove or go beyond the obstacles that you might encounter. The most important tips of all, however, is to make sure these goals cover all aspects of your life – from career to health to relationships to the family – and that the results you get are going to make some kind of difference in your life.

Setting Life Goals Should be an Easy and Flexible Process

Goals are personal and should belong to the individual that’s trying to achieve them. Visualizing your goal is easy, but being flexible enough to change them if necessary is another thing.

For some of us, once we set our minds on a goal we want to accomplish, it’s hard to change in mid-step, but sometimes, in order to be successful, it will be necessary. After all, success is what you’re looking for.

And yes, setting and achieving your goals will also depend on you being specific about what you’re trying to accomplish. You can’t make a plan for success if you aren’t sure what you want to be successful in.

Always Be Specific About Your Goals

The importance of being specific about what you want is that it helps keep you on target and eliminates any un-necessary side trips you may be tempted to take. These side trips should only be contemplated if they are going to help you achieve the end results you want.

Being specific also delivers what you want and keeps you from wandering aimlessly from one useless goal to another.

Another tip is, if you don’t or can’t reach one goal, don’t worry. Learn what went wrong and be flexible enough to try again using different methods. Don’t waste time trying to achieve your goals by doing the same thing that didn’t work, because you are guaranteed to get the same results.

Your dreams are important because they’re yours! Go for your goals! You have every right to be successful, and don’t let people who are confused about what they want in their own life dictate what you should or should not aim for in yours.

Morris is a contributing author with Seekyt. I'm an ENFP on the Myers-Briggs personality test. I am an environmental consultant who works with developing countries and developing communities to help them become more environmentally sustainable and economically self-sustaining.